Beer: Reviews & Ratings

I guess this one's technically a "Sticke" what with the slightly higher alcohol content, more robust malt presence, and bolder hop character than is called for in a regular Altbier. Poured this fellow into a "Stange," as this is the suggested appropriate glassware. In my eyes, it would seem more at home in a standard pint, a stein, or even a snifter. No matter, a good ale either way. Its color is a fairly clear copper-brown, reminded me of a scotch ale at first, but then I decided it was a lighter hue than the ruby-brown of that style. The head, from the side, is a uniformly-bubbled, light brown, but becomes whiter, chunkier, and finer towards the top. To me this indicates a relatively high viscosity, with some of the beer's body sticking to the medium-sized bubbles forming the head before trickling down. Head retained well. Aromatically it is definitely akin to a scotch ale, but not on the smokier/peatier side of that style. Just caramelized and toasted malts, some alcohol, and after a few whiffs, calling to mind first molasses, then brown sugar and cocoa. Toasted, somewhat smokey-tart maltiness is the first thing you notice once you finally imbibe. The sweetness is there, but not nearly as much as you might expect from the aroma. There are also notes of something fruity, strongest on the sides of the back of the tongue. Can't quite put my finger on it. With settling; bitter, piney hops balance out, and with swallowing; overcome, the malt character. This rich, smooth, medium- to full-bodied brew, with pleasant carbonation is one I'm glad I became acquainted with. Lots to notice here and I'm sure I missed something. (1,644 characters)

Sampled a pint at Beer Revolution in Calgary. Arrived a dark mahogany brown with a light topcoat of creamy off-white froth.

Compelling aroma that is surprising smoky, fruity, and aromatic. This is an odd beer, stylistically (from a conceptual standpoint) and in practice. Do not read "odd" as unpleasant. I am struck by an initial back bacon smokiness, followed quickly by some salt water taffy and astringent grape skins, raisins, milk chocolate, tart crabapples, dry walnut meat, and a decent boozy note. It should be a train wreck yet somehow this brew manages to meld these disparate elements into something that works. I certainly get some classic alt characteristics, fleshed out by equal parts winter warmer and rauchbier. Medium bodied and similarly mid-range in terms of carbonation. Finishes with a surprising dose of piney hops.

As I stated earlier, a unique hybrid. Nice to see a holiday-themed brew doing something besides adding spices. This beer may not truly understand what it actually is, beyond fairly delicious. (1,034 characters)

Great looking beer. Glowing dark brown with a creamy off-white head. A decent Winter seasonal, but MUCH stronger and hoppier than a real Alt. Considering the seasonal competition, I wouldn't get it again though. (211 characters)

Pours a deep, dark nut-brown with a thin lacy head. Tasted just plain awesome, with thick, sweet notes of molasses and malt with a refreshing evergreen hop bite. Went down smooth and easy despite the ABV. I didn't get to try a whole lot of it for myself, but I'm glad I didn't give it all away! (364 characters)

To me this drinks more like a strong ale than an alt. Really enjoyable and the malty sweetness and slight hoppiness paired very well with the halibut I had it with. I've gotten out of the habit of buying Ninkasi, but this was leftover from a six pack that my son in law had bought, so I'm glad he left it! I'd definitely buy this once in a while during the winter season. (371 characters)

This seasonal release poured a nice dark brown. It's nose was a slight nuttiness with a hint of molasses. Strong coffee flavour with some caramel in the mouth as well as some hoppiness that wasn't very prevalent on the nose. (224 characters)

A: Hmm. Not as dark as I expected! Deep plum red, with fluffy of white head. Reminds me of a Santa suit, in that sense. How apropos! Just a slight bit of lacing. A hint of sheeting. Deep yellow, almost grey-looking, in the dimple.

S: Toasted cereal grain and a slight char make up most of the nose. Slight grassy/earthy hop. Hint of lime. Maybe a touch of cranberry?

T/MF: The hops take over a bit, but there's an almost balancing earthy cocoa flavor. I would like it better balanced the opposite direction, but this is not bad. Finishes reintroduces a bit of that toasted cereal grain into the mix.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle, into a Belgian tulip glass. (711 characters)

22oz bottle - more Christmas goodies to get through, before that swath of Beer Advent Calendars does me in, come December. Oh, I do loves me some thoroughly unnecessary umlauts!

This beer pours a clear, dark red brick amber hue, with two Santa's belt-worthy fingers of densely foamy, puffy, and rocky ecru head, which leaves some decent bands of cobwebbed lace around the glass as it slowly ebbs away.

The carbonation is fairly understated, with a bare, unassuming frothiness for the most part, the body an adequate medium weight, and a bit too cutting on the high and side palates to be deemed particularly smooth. It finishes less sweet than I was expecting - the alcohol, dry maltiness, and strangely subsumed spices ruling the day.

A strange, and very American re-telling of an old European story - y'know, boozing and hopping up an Altbier, not to mention trying to pass it off as a holiday seasonal. Well, they seem to have succeeded on all fronts, as despite this one's weird astringency, it still goes down well in the face of snowfalls and stupidly overcrowded shopping expeditions alike. Oh, and I suppose I can let some "Bloodline" roll, in honour of punny names everywhere. (1,801 characters)

S: Alluringly rich aroma. Chocolate and caramel with light fruity esters that I'd have to identify as fig and grape. They work in combination and seem very festive.

M: Medium body. A little harsher than smooth, but not unpleasant. Moderately high carbonation. Rising astringency.

T: High malt character. Some dark fruit flavors and perfume from hops. Kola nut flavor really reminds me of Christmas, but just because of those Coca-Cola cans. Still, this beer works psychologically. Probably not as good as the rating suggests. Earthy flavors and very nut-like finish. Slight metallics really linger in the aftertaste. (708 characters)

Malty and earthy from what I'm guessing is noble hops. Not my normal style of beer I would choose but I got it because I was going to a slayer concert. It was a hit with all the people going. I think it was more on the novelty of it, but it was a fun beer to try. (263 characters)

Pours a lovely brown with ruby tint to it. A head of tan foam that fell fast. Nose is a pleasant malt that smells dry and deep. It has the beginings of what might have been dark fruit but it was forbidden. So tempting with it's sweetness and rich scents. Perfect clarity form this beer. It glows softly from within to sport those garnet hues like a hidden gem deep within the beer. Malt is rich and extends beyond the beers time on the palate. it seems to go on forever. It has a dry crispness in and of itself it has a bit of bitterness in the finish. caramel is laid under the dry malt. it's as though the heartier aspects wanted to be up front and so they stayed there. It has a medium mouthfeel and it is appropriately thin on the palate. It is not weighted down or heavy even though the malt is substantial. it finishes dry and with that bitterness that is a bit of a surprise but it makes you smile. The richness has abated for a moment, like it's toying with you. This is a lovely altbier and I think it's one of the best american alts I have had. It's clean and crisp. Relatively bitter (1,106 characters)

Poured a clear, deep brown body with reddish tint when held to light and a one finger bubbly off-white head. A very nice looking, true to form altbier. Scents of rich, sweet malt, light fruity esters reminiscent of apple and grape and a medium level of Noble hop perfume, floral and spicy, especially pepper, aromas. Overall impression of aroma is of a classic, very well executed Dusseldorf Altbier that hits the style exactly. Extremely well done. Flavor begins moderately bitter with a floral and perfume-like Noble hop presence evident, a light fruitiness that matches the aroma and a medium-light level of sweet malt. This moves into a middle with the same Noble hop character, but adds a more pronounced and complex malt flavor that is sweet and slightly bready in character. Fruity ester flavors are still present, still light and still apple with a bit of grape. Finish is medium-dry with a moderate Noble hop character and prominent hop bitterness, light fruity esters of apple, light toasted malt and nuttiness and a clean finish. Aftertaste is moderately bitter with a medium-light presence of sweet, bready, grainy and biscuity malt flavors. Overall impression of flavor is of a nicely done Dusseldorf Altbier that trends towards the bitter end of the style, yet fits it quite nicely. Well executed and enjoyable. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a smooth feel. Overall impression of mouthfeel is of an excellent and true to form Dusseldorf Altbier. Overall this is a good Altbier. It is very true to style and pleasant in aroma, flavor and mouthfeel. It is a nicely done, aromatic, flavorful ale and quite nice. (1,648 characters)

Pours a deep copper color with a tight, off-white head that leaves little chunks of lacing.

Smells of dark fruits and some toasted malt.

Tastes of the dark fruits layered with booze and bread. Dark fruit notes lead off with notes of fig and plum. Toasted malts add in next with cocoa, toffee, and brown sugar. Booze adds in before a bit of earthy hoppiness adds in. Finishes with a bit of smoke and dark fruits.

Appearance – The beer pours a deep ruby red color, nearing on looking light brown, with a huge and creamy tan colored head that has an amazing level of retention. The head very slowly fades over time to leave a fantastic level of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma of the beer is super heavy of a spent grainy smell mixed with some fruity aromas of a more dark stone fruit nature containing smells of cherry, plum, and fig. Along with these aromas come some notes of a roasted malt as well as a bit of molasses.

Taste – The taste begins drier then would have been expected from the nose, but just as grainy and malty as I would have expected. It begins with a slightly roasted and very grainy malt taste mixed with some light molasses sweetness. The graininess gets even more intense with a bit more roast and some hay coming to the tongue toward the end. Along with these flavors so too comes a bit of a warming alcohol taste as well as a loss of most of the molasses. In the end, with the transitions that occur, one is left with a very grainy and malty spent grain flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the slightly thinner side for an altbier of 7.2 % abv. with a carbonation level that is on the average side. For the style a little bit of a thicker body may have been more traditional, but in light of the rather massive spent grain flavor, the lighter body was actually quite nice.

Overall – Very malty and grainy with a lower level of sweetness. Not a bad altbier, but not the easiest drinking either. A nice one to try and good if you are not feeling anything sweet. (1,693 characters)

Amber brown in color with plenty of clarity. Fits the style. The head is what's gorgeous and really makes the score here. It's a creamy foam up top. Different sized bubbles, but cream is the word of the day. Decent retention from the finger and a half thick head, the color is a light tan. Full lace.

All malt. Smells like dessert. Caramel, milk chocolate, expresso scents come wafting up. No sign of hops, it really does smell like a yummy dessert.

The scents in the nose becomes flavors on the tongue with the caramel, chocolate, and coffee being accounted for. However, the chocolate is more bittersweet and the coffee is no longer sweet. Hop presence is clearly noted/Noble.

An initial burst of sweetness from all the malt is quickly offset by plenty of bittering agents. It's got some balance, though the overall score favors bitterness over sweetness. For a while, it smooth and creamy, but that gives way to a strong, lingering bitterness. All the while you can feel the sweetness trying to make a comeback, but the bitter is just a little stronger.

Overall, it's a really good beer and shouldn't necessarily be a winter beer as this would be good year round with that dry bitter finish. Really happy a friend from just north of the Washington-Oregon state line sent me this. (1,286 characters)

A - Poured a very deep, rich brown, almost black, with a thick latte, tan colored head. Retention was a bit slow, maybe it was the way I poured this one?

S - Not much going on in the nose, mild roast, dark fruit smell, figs, plum, molasses, everything was very subtle to the nose.

T - The taste accompanies the smell. Very mild roasted malt, coffee, latte, reminded me very much of brown bread ingredients, mild fruit like figs and plums, a tad of a charcoal spicy finish.

M - Medium to Heavy body, mild carbonation, lingers in the throat for a bit.

O - Aside from boosting my egoism and having a name that made me want to enjoy this with Hell's Angels in a pool room. This was very subtle, everything is balanced, just wished it was brought out more. With a name like Sleigh, this is not a beefed up beer of this style. (853 characters)

I first tried this beer while in Idaho on a search for a new home. I had never heard of it and gave it a try, and I enjoyed it immensely. If I could drink this all the time, for the price, well I think I'll get it whenever I can when its available. Its that good.

Pours a deep red, almost black but can see some light through it. Decent size head that falls to a ring with some bubbles. Heavy lacing on the side of glass throughout drinking it.

Smell is roasted barley and specialty malts. Some rye bread, some coffee, and bittering hops.

Taste is very good with good amount of bitter from malt, which I am a fan of. Big roasty flavor with a bready, malty, caramel like flavor in the middle, with a short finish of bittering hops. Also a tad bit of cherry flavor as well if you dig in. 7.2 abv hits the spot as I like beer that gives me a buzz for the price. Very clean taste overall, and I can't find any off flavors.

It's got medium carbonation, with a kind of light mouthfeel. Little can be said about the style as I've only had a few alt ales, most of which were very good. This is just a great winter warmer beer that is readily available on the west coast.

Over all I have to recommend this to anyone that likes darker sessionable beers. It's almost in the realm of a stout or porter, but not quite there. (1,316 characters)

Pours dark brown with two fingers of light tan long lasting head. Good amount of lacing on the side of the glass.Smell is a faint whiff of malt. No bad aromas just not much going on.Taste is sweet caramel chocolate a touch of coffee and a dark hop bitterness. Might find some molasses as well. Mouthfeel is a bit on the light side. Carbonation is medium. Finish is slightly dry and bitter. Leaves you wanting another sip.Overall an easy drinking beer and quite similar to many "winter warmers." Alcohol level is on the high side but is mostly hidden by all the rich flavors. Recommended. (591 characters)

S: Not much going on in the nose. A bit of nuttiness, caramel malts, and a bit of cocoa Smells a bit festive would be a good way to describe this. Nothing overpowering.

T: nutty, a bit malty with slight coffee notes. with a very pronounced hop bitterness at the end that surprised me because I couldn't detect any hops in he nose. I like it a lot.

M: thin carbonation wish it was a bit more viscous. It left my lips a bit sticky.

Overall: I had high hopes for a beer that bared the name of the almighty thrash lords known as slayer. It did not let me down. I need to blast some altar of sacrifice while I enjoy this. I'd recommend this beer to any metal or hop head. (809 characters)

Poured out of a 12oz bottle as part of a Ninkasi brewers box. Sleighr is dark amber, almost black in the glass. An enthusiastic pour produces a rather disappointing thin head that dissipates quickly. This disappointment didn't last long because this brew tasted great. It does taste malty, but certainly not overly so. The smell and taste are somewhat akin to fermented blackberry. A mild Christmas beer with a well camouflaged ABV at 7.2 it taste more like a 5.5.

Overall a very enjoyable beer. Glad Ninkasi is holding it down for us folks here in Oregon. (557 characters)

Served from a 22 oz bottle into a standard pint glass. The label features a 19th century Santa with holly and falling blue snowflakes on a dark winter night. This bottle was bought in April at a sale price. A semi-aggressive pour yields a 1/8 inch tan head that sticks around for awhile, coating the glass. The lacing left on the glass resembles Dinwoody rock art....The color is a moderate yellowish-brown with ruby highlights. I smell malt and floral hops, which are well balanced in the taste. I detect a slight bit of sour apple, which lingers in the aftertaste along with a citrusy hop bitterness.

I was drinking some of this around the holidays, and thought it bit hoppy for my taste. Oftentimes, I think many craft beers, particularly those brewed on the west coast, suffer from too much of a good thing (hops). The hops in this beer seem a tad bit toned down after the interim of about 4 months, and I found myself enjoying this a bit more than at Christmastime. Now that it's come down a bit in price, I'm liable to get another bomber or two before it's gone. (1,069 characters)